Electric switch



3 SheetsSheet l 1 J LWJ ELECTRIC SWITCH L. E. FISHER ET AL Filed Aug.22, 1935 F M.- I n INVENTORS.

M 4 ze, 6%

AM/ W ATTORNEY ullulll-llllllllll Dec. 6, 1938.

Dec. 6, 1938. E. FISHER ET AL 2,139,072

ELECTRIC SWITCH Filed Aug 22, 1935 s Sheets-Sheet 2 INVgNORS.

ATTORNEY.

1938- L. E. FISHER ET AL 2,139,072

ELECTRIC SW'I'I'CH Filed Aug 22, 1955 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTgg; 6', BYiwi/M AMZ. Md

ATTORNEY.

Patented Dec. 6, 1938 PATENT OFFICE ELECTRIC SWITCH Lawrence E. Fisherand William H. Frank, Detroit, Mich.

Application August 22, 1935, Serial No. 37,291

9 Claims.

This application relates to electric switches.

The switch here shown is generally of the type disclosed in the patentto H. J. L. Frank, No. 1,731,489, of October 15, 1929, and represents animprovement over the switch of that patent. The switch here shown, aswell as the switch of the patent, includes a sheet metal box having anopen front closed by a hinged cover and contains an insulation base uponwhich are mounted fuses and stationary contacts, and for connecting thefuses into the switch controlled lines there are provided movablecontacts operatively associated with an operating bail journalled inopposite sides of the sheet metal switch box and manipulated, through aquick make and break mechanism, by means of a crank handle outside ofthe box. In the switch of the patent the movable contacts are in thenature of pivotally moounted knife blades of the lever type and theconnections between the blades and the bail are remote from the knifeblade pivots so that the knife blades swing into and out of engagementwith the stationary contacts. In the switch here shown the movablecontacts are of the reciprocating type, as illustrated by the switch ofa copending application in the name of Lawrence E. Fisher and William H.Frank, Serial No. 35,732, filed Aug. 12, 1935, and these movablecontacts are operatively associated with and insulatedly supported bythe bail of the switch.

The switch of the present invention differs from the switch of thepatent in still another respect. In the switch of the present inventionthe base is removably secured to the box and the stationary contacts areinseparably coupled to the insulation formation that supports themovable contact from the operating bail. Consequently, for facilitatingpulling of wires into and through the switch box, and for enabling theswitch box to be used as a pull box, and for facilitating wiring up ofthe switch, the base may be swung out of the box and pivotally supportedon the operating bail in a manner that will readily be obvious so as toclear the entire interior of the switch box, all without requiring orpermitting the base to be detached entirely and completely from theremainder of the switch.

Still further objects and advantages of the switch here disclosed willbe readily understandable upon reference to the specification anddrawings of this application.

In these drawings,

Fig. l is a front view of the switch with the box cover partially cutaway to expose the ini terior, the switch being shown in off position.

Fig. 2 is a right side view of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a bottom end view of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 2 but with the switch in the onposition and with the coin ductors shown in place.

Fig. 5 shows the switch base swung out of the switch box to clear theinterior of the box.

Figs. 6, 7, and 8 show contact details and illus trate the manner ofinterlocking the stationary and the ,movable contacts so they may not be10 detached completely from one another.

Referring to the drawings it will be seen that the switch here shown,like the switch of Patent No. 1,731,489, includes a sheet metal box it)having a hingedly mounted front cover Within the in line and loadconductors ll, encased in conduits For bridging the stationary contactsthere are provided movable contacts supported in insulation formationsreferenced generally 20 and these are provided with lugs 2| throughwhose slots pass the bight of an operating bail 2| journalled inopposite sides of switch box l0 and operated, through a quick make andbreak mechanism 22, by an exposed handle 23.

As has previously been stated the contact details are generally of thetype shown in application, Serial No.'35,732, filed August 12, 1935, andthey are here illustrated in detail. The stationary contacts l'6 are inthe nature of angle clips of conducting material fixedly mounted on the0 base parts I2. The movable contacts are in the nature of slugs 30 ofconducting material carried by the central portions 3| of box-likeinsulation structures 32 which reciprocate over the stationary contactsand which are provided with the 4:;

slotted lugs 2| previously mentioned by means of which the box-likestructures 32 and the movable contacts 30 formed as parts thereof aresuspended from the operatin bail.

In order to prevent complete detachment of the movable contactstructures from the stationary contacts, the box-like structures 32 areprovided with inwardly projecting portions 33 which interlock withoutward projections 34 on the stationary contacts Hi and it will thus beseen that while reciprocation of the movable contacts is permittedwithout interference, nevertheless complete detachment of the movablecontacts from the stationary contacts is prevented.

It will be seen that when crank handle 23 is oscillated the bail 2| willcorrespondingly oscillate with the result that the movable contacts willreciprocate to and from their contact making and breaking positions witha quick make and break action provided by mechanism 22.

It will also be observed that if the mounting screws which secure thebase parts I 2 to the back of the box [0 are removed, that the baseparts as a whole may be swung out from the interior of the box to clearsuch interior and facilitate wire pulling and wiring of the switch. Whenthe base is so swung out the engagement or interlock provided by theportions 33 and 34 of the contact sets prevents detachment of the basefrom the movable contacts and therefore the base may be considered aspivotally supported by the operating bail when it is in its swung-outposition; the group of parts comprising the base, the contacts, and theoperating bail may be considered as a unitary assembly pivotallysupported on box it), and particularly on the sides thereof, when suchassembly is swung out to clear the interior of the box for wire pullingand wire connecting purposes.

We claim:

1. In a box contained switch a box, an openable front cover therefor, astationary contact mounted on the back of the box and projectingforwardly, a movable contact mounted to reciprocate with a substantiallyrectilinear motion towards and away from the back of the box, and quickacting mechanical motion means of the bail and handle type forreciprocating said movable contact into and out of contact makingposition with a rectilinear motion, the movable contact being formed aspart of an insulation structure which supports and guides the movablecontact in its movement and insulates the movable contact from the bailand 'handle means, the means including a rod portion in front of, spacedfrom, and parallel to the box back and mounted to move towards and awayfrom the box back without losing its parallel relation thereto, theinsulation structure being mounted on the rod portion in a manner tohave a full floating movement with respect thereto, and meansinterlocking the insulation structure to the stationary contact wherebycomplete disassociation of the movable parts from the stationary partsis prevented.

2. In a box contained switch a box, an openable front cover therefor, astationary contact mounted on the back of the box and projectingforwardly, a movable contact mounted to reciprocate with a substantiallyrectilinear motion towards and away from the back of the box, and quickacting mechanical motion means of the bail and handle type forreciprocating said movable contact into and out of contact makingposition with a rectilinear motion, the movable contact being formed aspart of an insulation structure which supports and guides the movablecontact in its movement and insulates the movable contact from the bailand handle means, the insulation structure comprising a housing containing the movable contact and completely closed except at one open endthereof which opens towards the base and telescoping over the stationarycontact which closes the open end of the housing at all times and whichhas its free end constantly within the housing.

3. In a box contained switch a box, an openable front cover therefor, astationary contact mounted on the back of the box and projectingforwardly, a movable contact mounted to recipro cate with asubstantially rectilinear motion towards and away from the back of thebox, and quick acting mechanical motion means of the bail and handletype for reciprocating said movable contact into and out of contactmaking position with a rectilinear motion, the movable contact beingformed as part of an insulation structure which supports and guides themovable contact in its movement and insulates the movable contact fromthe bail and handle means, the means including a rod portion in frontof, spaced from, and parallel to the box back and mounted to movetowards and away from the box back without losing its parallel relationthereto, the insulation structure being mounted on the rod portion in amanner to have a full floating movement with respect thereto, and meansinterlocking the insulation structure to the stationary contact wherebycomplete disassociation of the movable parts from the stationary partsis prevented, the constant engagement of the insulation structure andthe stationary contact insuring rectilinear movement only of the movablecontact.

4. In a box contained switch a box, an openable front cover therefor, astationary contact mounted on the back of the box and projectingforwardly, a movable contact mounted to reciprocate with a substantiallyrectilinear motion towards and away from the back of the box, and quickacting mechanical motion means of the bail and handle type forreciprocating said mov able contact into and out of contact makingposition with a rectilinear motion, the movable contact being formed aspart of an insulation structure which supports and guides the movablecontact in its movement and insulates the movable contact from the bailand handle means, the means including a rod portion in front of, spacedfrom, and parallel to the box back and mounted to move towards and awayfrom the box back without losing its parallel relation thereto, theinsulation structure being mounted on the rod portion in a manner tohave a full floating movement with respect thereto, and meansinterlocking the insulation structure to the stationary contact wherebycomplete disassociation of the movable parts from the stationary partsis prevented, the constant engagement of the insulation structure andthe stationary contact insuring rectilinear movement only of the movablecontact, the insulation structure comprising a cup shaped housingcontaining the movable contact and opening towards the base andtelescoping over the stationary contact which closes the open side ofthe housing at all times and which has its free end constantly withinthe housing.

5. In a box contained switch a box, an openable front cover therefor, astationary contact counted on the back of the box and projectingforwardly, a movable contact mounted to reciprocate with a substantiallyrectilinear motion towards and away from the back of the box, and quickacting mechanical motion means of the bail and handle type forreciprocating said movable contact into and out of contact makingrectilinear motion, the movable arsacre the means including a rodportion in front of, spaced from, and parallel to the box back andmounted to move towards and away from the box back without losing itsparallel relation thereto, the insulation structure being mounted on therod portion, the insulation structure comprising a housing containingthe movable contact and completely closed except at one open end thereofwhich opens towards the base and telescoping over the stationary contactwhich closes the open able contact into and out of contact makingposition with a rectilinear motion, the movable con tact being formed aspart of an insulation structure which supports and guides the movablecontact in its movement and insulates the movable contact from the bailand handle means, the means including a rod portion in front of, spacedfrom, and parallel to the box back and mounted to move towards and awayfrom the box back without losing its parallel relation thereto, theinsulation structure being mounted on the rod portion, and meansinterlocking the insulation structure to the stationary contact wherebycomplete disassociation of the movable parts from the stationary partsis prevented.

'7. In a box contained switch, a hog, an openable front cover therefor,a stationary contact mounted on the back of the box and projectingforwardly, a movable contact mounted to reciprocate with a substantiallyrectilinear motion towards and away from the back of the box, and quickacting mechanical motion means of the bail and handle type forreciprocating said movable contact into and out or contact makingposition with a rectilinear motion, the movable contact being formed aspart of an insulation structure which supports and guides the mov ablecontact in its movement and insulates the movable contact from the bailand handle. means, and means interlocking the insulation structure tothe stationary contact whereby complete disassociation of the movableparts from the stationary parts is prevented.

8. In a box contained switch, a stationary contact, a movable contactmounted to reciprocate with a substantially rectilinear motion, andquick acting mechanical motion means of the bail and handle type forreciprocating said movable contact into and out of contact makingposition with a rectilinear motion, the movable contact being formed aspart of an insulation structure which supports and guides the movablecontact in its movement and insulates the movable contact from the bailand handle means, and means interlocking the insulation structure to thestationary contact whereby complete disassociation of the movable partsfrom the stationary parts is prevented, the stationary parts beinghingedly interlocked to the movable parts whereby they may be swung outof the switch containing box to clear the interior of the latter.

9. In a box contained switch a box, an openable front cover therefor, astationary contact mounted on the back of the box and projectingforwardly, a movable contact mounted to reciprocate with a substantiallyrectilinear motion towards and away from the back of the box, and quickacting mechanical motion means of the b il and handle type forreciprocating said movable contact into and out of contact makingposition with a rectilinear motion, the movable contact being formed aspart of an insulation structure which supports and guides the movablecontact in its movement and insulates the movable contact from the bailand handle means, the

means including a rod portion in front of, spaced 1 from, and parallelto the box back and mounted to move towards and away from the box backwithout losing its parallel relation thereto, the insulation structurebeing mounted on the rod portion in, a manner to have a full floatingmovement with respect thereto, the insulation structure comprising ahousing containing the movable contact and completely closed except atone open end thereof which opens towards the base and telescoping overthe stationary contact which closes the open end of the housing at alltimes and which has its free end constantly within the housing.

LAWRENCE E. FISHER. WILLIAM H. FRANK.

